Overflow-alarm.



J. ALA. HBYDEGGER.

OVBRFLOW ALARM. AI PLmATIoNIILBD 00'1". 31,1908.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

Julms KB INVENTOR: EY EH ATTORNEY S I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS A. A. HEYDEGGER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

OVERFLOW-ALARM.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JULrUs A. A. HEYDEG- GER, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOverflow-Alarms; and I do hereby declare the-following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, and tocharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention has reference, generally, to overflow-alarms; and, theinvention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction ofoverflow-alarm which is especially adapted for use with the drip-pans ofrefrigerators, but may also be used with tanks containing water orliquids which are subject to rising levels and where there is danger ofan overflow.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel, simpleand cheaply con structed overflow-alarm or device which is especiallyadapted for use with the ordinary drip-pan of a refrigerator, ice-box,or the like, and which, when the water within the pan reaches a certainheight, serves as an indicator or annunciator that the water within thepan has reached a predetermined height, and thereby serves as a warningthat the drip-pan should be emptied, so as to avoid the danger of anoverflow.

My invention has for its further purpose to provide a portable device ofthe general character hereinafter set forth which can be placed in anysuitable receptacle or tank containing water or other liquid havingvarying levels, the device being placed in an electric circuit with asource of electricity and an indicator, as an alarm-bell, and the partsof the device being such that at a predetermined time the rising wateror liquid will actuate such parts of the device and cause the same tocomplete the electriccircuit and sound an alarm upon the annunciator, orotherwise indicate the fact upon the indicator.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularlymentioned will be clearly understood from the following de taileddescription of the same.

The invention consists, primarily, in the novel overflow-alarm or devicehereinafter Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 31, 1908.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Serial No. 460,391.

set forth ,and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the variousarrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well as inthe details of the construction of the same, all of which will behereinafter more fully described and then finally embodied in theclauses of the claim which are appended to and which form an essentialpart of this specification.

, The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of an overflow alarmembodying the features of the present invention, and a top view of adrippan in which the device is placed, said view showing also inelectrical circuit with the device, an electric battery and analarmbell. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional representation of a portion ofa drip-pan, and a side elevation of the overflow-alarm showing the partsof the device in their normal initial positions when the electricalconnection between the parts is interrupted or broken; and Fig. 8 is asimilar view of the same parts represented in said Fig. 2, but showingthe parts of the overflow-alarm in their operated positions makingelectric contact to establish and complete an electric circuit throughthe battery and annunciator. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line44 in Fig. 2 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrow ac;and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, said section being taken online 55 in said Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicatesone form of overflow-alarm embodying the principles of my presentinvention, the said alarm or device comprising a suitably formed andornamental base 2 provided with a screw-threaded socket 3 with which isadjustably connected, substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3of the drawings, by the screwthreaded end-portion 4, a post 3. The upperend-portion of the said post is also made screw-threaded, as at 5, andhas secured thereon a disk or washer 6 which is made from material whichis a non-conductor of electricity. Suitably arranged upon the saidscrew-threaded part 5 is an element or member 7 which may be providedwith a ring or loop 8 and which serves as a finger-piece-for carryingthe device, as will be clearly evident.

Suitably secured in a fixed position upon said screw-threaded part 5 ofthe post 3, directly beneath the element 7 is a contact-plate or member9 which is formed with a rearwardly extending main body-portion. 10provided with the laterally extending arms 11, substantially as shown.Separated from that portion of the contact-member formed by the saidarms, by means of a piece of insulating material 12, is a secondcontact-111aking element or member 13, which is made from a suitablespring-metal, and is formed .with a forwardly extending arm 14, arrangedbeneath the body-portion 10, said arm being made with an enlarged end 15in which there is a hole or opening 1.6 through which the rod 3 extends,substantially in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thesaid hole 16 being made much larger than the cross area of the rod 3, sothat these parts in their assembled relation will not touch, and thatthere can not be any possible short-circuiting of the electric current.The said arms 1 1 and the member 13 are operatively connected by meansof two screws 17 and 18, an insulating sleeve 19 encircling the screw 17between its head and. the metal member 13, and an insulating sleeve 20encircling the screw 18 and. being arranged between a metal washer 21and the metal arm 11. A washer 22 is also arranged upon the screw 17,suitable binding nuts 23 and 24 being respectively arranged upon thescrews 17 and 18, for the attachment to said screws of the respectiveends of the circuit-wire 25 connected with a battery 26, or other sourceof electricity, and having arranged in said circuit an annunciator orelectric bell 27. Extending downwardly from the said enlargedend-portion 15 of the contact-making member or element 13 are rods 28,having their lower end-portions extending into and throughcorrespondingly placed holes or ducts 30 in a float 29, said float undernormal conditions being supported upon disks or washers 31., or othersuitable supporting means, with which the lower ends of said rods 28 areprovided, as will be clearly evident. The float 29 is also provided witha central hole or duct 32 of larger cross-sectional area than that ofthe rod 3, said rod extending through the said hole 32, and the floatbeing capable of a free movement upon said rod, as will be clearlyunderstood from an inspection of said Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Under normal conditions, when the overflow-alarm or device 1 is placedin a drip-pan 33, as shown in. Figs. 1. and 2 of the drawings, the float29 is supported upon the disks or washers 31 of the rods 28, the weightof the float causing the spring-contact to be de flected with itsenlarged portion 15 resting directly upon the disk or washer 6 of therod 3, so that the electric circuit with the battery and the bell isinterrupted, as will be clearly understood. 2 However, as soon as thelevel of the water or fluid. in the drippan, or other receptacle, risesto a height so that the float 29 will float thereon, the still risingcondition of the water, or the like, will permit the float to move in anupward. direction upon the rod 3, and by thereby relieving the weightpreviously carried by the rods 28 from said rods, permits the spring-arm14 to move in an upward direction, so as to bring the enlarged metalportion. 15, directly-against the metal end-portion or contact-plate 9of the bodymember 10. Immediately a complete electric circuit isestablished between these parts, by means of the circuit-wires with thebattery and the annunciator or electric bell, the latter sounding analarm. The device is thereupon. removed from the drip-pan, and thelatter emptied of its contents.

From the foregoing description it will be clearly evident that 1 havedevised a simply constructed and eflectively operating device which canbe employed as an alarm-overflow in connection with the drip-pans ofrefrigerators, ice-boxes, and the like; and may also be used in otherrespects with liquid-storing tanks or reservoirs to indicate when thelevel of the water or liquid is at any previously determined height.

I am aware that changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the details of theconstruction of the said parts, as described in the foregoingspecification and. as defined in the claims which are appended to saidspecification. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exactarrangements and combinations of the devices and. parts as set forth inthe said specification, nor do 1 confine myself to the details of theconstruction of any of the said parts, as illustrated in theaccompanying (ilrawings.

I claim 1. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, saidv base beingprovided with a screwthreaded receiving socket, a rod provided with ascrew-threaded portion screwed into said. socket, so as to be adjustablewith relation to said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, asecond contact-member movably arranged upon said rod, said members beingelectrically insulated. from each other, and a float connected with saidmovable contact-member, substantially and. for the purposes set forth.

2. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, said base being provided with ascrewthreaded receiving socket, a rod provided with. a screw-threadedportion screwed into said socket, so as to be adjustable with rela tion.to said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a secondcontact-member movably arranged upon said rod, said members beingelectrically insulated from each other, and a float connected with saidmovable contactmember, and a fingerpiece'upon the upper end-portion ofsaid rod, substantially as and for the )urposes set forth.

3. Anoverflow-a arm comprising a base, a main rod mounted upon saidbase, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a laterally extendingbody-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid rod, a means of elec trical insulation between said members,binding posts connected with said members, and a float connected withsaid spring-like contact-member, substantially as and, for the purposesset forth.

4. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod mounted upon saidbase, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a laterally extendingbody-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid rod,a means of electrical insulation between said members, bindingposts connected with said members, rods extending downwardly from thesaid perforated end-portion of said spring-like contact-member, and afloat movably mounted upon said rods and the main rod which extends fromthe said base, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod mounted upon saidbase, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a laterally extendingbody-portion connected with said contaot-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid rod, a means of electrical insulation between said members, bindingposts connected with said members, and a float connected with saidspring-like contact-member, and a fingerpiece upon the upper end-portionof said rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. An overfiow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod mounted upon saidbase, a contact-member fixed. upon said rod, a laterally extendingbody-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid rod, ameans of electrical insulation between said members, bindingposts connected with said members, rods extending downwardly from thesaid perforated end-portion of said spring-like contact-member, and afloat movably mounted upon said rods and the main rod which extends fromthe said base, and a fingerpiece upon the upper end-portion of said.rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod adjustably mountedupon said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a laterallyextending body-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid main rod, a means of electrical insulation between said members,binding posts connected with said members, and a float connected withsaid spring-like contact-members, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

8. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod adjustably mountedupon said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a laterallyextending body-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid main rod, a means of electrical insulation between said members,binding-posts connected with said members, rods extending downwardlyfrom the said perforated end portion of said spring-like contact-member,and a float movably mounted upon said rods and the main rod whichextends from the said base, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

9. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod adjustably mountedupon said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, a laterallyextending body-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecon- "tact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid main rod, a means of electrical insulation between said members,binding posts connected with said members, and a float connected withsaid spring-like contact-member, and a fingerpiece upon the upperend-portion of said rod, substantially as and. for the purposes setforth.

10. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, a main rod adjustably mountedupon said. base, a contact-member fixed-upon said rod, a laterallyextending body-portion connected with said contact-member, a spring-likecontact-member having a perforated end-portion movably arranged uponsaid main rod, a

means of electrical insulation between said members, binding postsconnected with said members, and a float connected with said spring-likecontact-members, rods extending downwardly from the said perforated endportion of said s ring-like contact-member, and a float mova ly mountedupon said rods and the main rod which extends from the said base, and afingerpiece upon the upper end-portion of said rod, substantially as andp for the purposes set forth.

11. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, said base being provided with ascrewthreaded receiving socket, a main rod provided with ascrew-threadedportion screwed into said socket, so as to be adjustablewith relation to said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, alaterally extending body portion connected with said contact-member, aspring-like contact member having a perforated end-portion movablyarranged upon said main rod, a means of electrical insulation betweensaid members binding-posts connected with said members, and a floatconnected with said spring-like contactmember, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

12. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, said base being provided with ascrewthreaded receiving socket, a main rod provided with ascrew-threaded portion screwed into said socket, so as to be adjustablewith relation to said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, alaterally extending bodyportion connected with said contact-member, aspring-like contact-member having a per forated end-portion movablyarranged upon said main rod, a means of electrical insula tion. betweensaid members, binding-posts connected with said members, rods extendingdownwardly from the said perforated endportion of said spring-likecontact-mem.ber, and a float movably mounted upon said rods and the mainrod which extends from the said base, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

13. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, said base being provided with ascrewthreaded receiving socket, a main rod provided. with ascrew-threaded portion screwed into said socket, so as to be adjustablewith relation to said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, alaterally extending body portion connected with said contact-member, aspring-like contact-member having a perforated end-portion movablyarranged upon said main rod, a means of electrical insulation betweensaid members, binding-posts smss connected with said members, and afloat connected with said spring-like contactmember, and a 'fingerpieceupon theiupper end-portion of said rod, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

14. An overflow-alarm comprising a base, said base being provided with a:screwthreaded receiving socket, a main rod pro vided with ascrew-threaded portion screwed into said socket, so as to be adjustablewith relation to said base, a contact-member fixed upon said rod, alaterally extending bodyportion connected with said contact-member, aspring-like contact member having a perforated end-portion movablyarranged upon said main rod, a means of electrical insulation betweensaid members, binding-posts connected with said members, and a floatconnected with said spring-like contactmember, rods extending downwardlyfrom the said perforated end-portion of said springlike contact-member,and a float movably mounted upon said rods and the main rod whichextends from the said base, and a lingerpiece upon the upper end-portionof said rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 24th day of October, 1908.

JULIUS A. A. HEYDEGGER.

lVitnesses FREDK. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

